Brunson, Beal, Drummond and more striking opening night moves in free agency originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
On the always hectic opening night of free agency, “in case you missed it” is a much more appropriate expression than usual. Before the evening began, Kevin Durant requested a transaction from the Nets.
With the sixers expect to add PJ Tucker† Daniel House Jr. and Trevelin Queenhere’s a rundown of notable non-Sixers action from Night 1:
Jalen Brunson — Knicks
CAA basketball agents Aaron Mintz and Sam Rose said: Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN that Brunson agreed to a four-year $104 million deal with a player option in the final season.
That’s quite a contract for the 25-year-old Villanova product, a player who passed every team in the first round of the 2018 NBA draft.
The Knicks also agreed on a $16.7 million two-year deal with center Isaiah Hartenstein on Thursday night. Kelly Iko of Athletic reports this.
Other reported agreements to reach the $100 million mark are included Bradley Beal (five years, $251 million to stay in Washington), Anfernee Simons (four years, $100 million with Portland), and expansions for Nikola Jokic, Devin Booker, Ja Morant and Karl-Anthony Towns.
Andre Drummond – Bulls
The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported Drummond en route to a contract with Chicago. It’s a $6.6 million two-year deal with a player option in Years 2 and will use some of the non-taxpayer mid-level exception of the Bulls. The Sixers, who signed Drummond to a one-year, veteran minimum contract last summer, could not have matched that price, still adding both Tucker and House.
The backup center was a definite off-season need for Chicago. Tony Bradley, another former Sixer, is also in that mix after raising his $2 million player option.
DeAndre Jordan – Nuggets
To no one’s surprise, the Sixers’ Game 1 starter for their second round playoff series against the Heat does not reside in Philadelphia.
Jordan and the Nuggets agreed on a minimum contract of one year, Mike Singer of The Denver Post reports this.
That wasn’t all in the former Sixers big men’s news. Mike Muscala and Dewayne Dedmon will reportedly re-sign with Thunder and Heat, respectively.
Victor Oladipo — Heat
Oladipo returns to Miami on a one-year deal of $11 million, reported Charania.
Among the other players reportedly returning to the Eastern Conference playoff teams are Toronto’s Chris BoucherMilwaukee’s Wesley Matthews and Jevon Carterand Brooklyn’s Patty Mills and Nicolas Claxton†